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WWI Vocabulary
Napoleon: emperor of France 1804–15.
Congress of Vienna: an international conference (1814–15) held at Vienna after
Napoleon's banishment to Elba, with Metternich as the dominant figure, aimed at
territorial resettlement and restoration to power of the crowned heads of Europe.
French Revolution: an uprising in France against the monarchy from 1789 to 1799
which resulted in the establishment of France as a republic
Democracy: rule by the people
Race A group of people identified as distinct from other groups because of
supposed physical or genetic traits shared by the group
Ethnicity: belonging to a group that shares the same culture
Nationalism: patriotism for one’s country. It can be extreme which leads to
contempt to other nations.
Republic: representative government
Nicholas II: Last Czar of Russia. He brought Russia into WWI.
Kaiser: term for German king
Otto von Bismarck: German Prime Minister who unified Germany
Wilhelm II: King of Germany that wanted to expand
Parliament: a country's legislative (law-making) body
Prussia: a former state in N Europe: became a military power in the 18th century
and in 1871 led the formation of the German empire; formally abolished as an
administrative unit in 1947. Expand.
Austria-Hungary: A former dual monarchy of central Europe consisting
of Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia,
Herzegovina, and parts of Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, and Italy. It was
formed in 1867 after agitation by Hungarian nationalists within
the Austrian empire and lasted until 1918.
Victorio Emmanuel II: King of Sardinia (1849-1861) and first king of united Italy
(1861-1878)
Count Camillo Cavour: a conservative whose exploitation of international rivalries
and of revolutionary movements brought about the unification of Italy
Militarism: the buildup of a nation’s military and control by the military class
Imperialism: the act of a stronger nation taking over a weaker one by diplomacy
or by force. The country might want: land, money, resources, jobs, or to civilize
the people.
System of Alliances: system of alliances-entangling treaties and friendships that
bound nations together before WWI
Triple Alliance: pre-war connections between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy
Triple Entente: pre-war connection between France, Britain, and Russia
Franz Ferdinand: Archduke of Austria-Hungary whose death pushed Europe into
war
Gavrilo Princip: assassin of Ferdinand
Allies: Great Britain, Russia, France, and the U.S.
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey
Georges Clemenceau: Prime Minister of France
David Lloyd George: Prime Minister of Great Britain
American Expeditionary Force: U.S. forces in WWI
Two Front War: a war that pits one nation against others leaving it to fight in two
different directions
Schlieffen Plan: plan to defeat France and Russia at the same time in a two front
European War
Alfred Schlieffen: German war strategist
The Sussex: French ship sun k by U-boats
U-Boat: German submarines that blockaded Britain
Balkans: area of mountains near Serbia
Zimmerman Note: telegram from Germany to Mexico trying to get them to attack
the U.S.
The Lusitania: British Ocean liner sunk by U-Boats, killing over 100 Americans
Theodore Roosevelt: Former President who wanted the U.S to be involved in
world affairs
Woodrow Wilson: President of the United States that kept th enation out of most
of the war. He wanted to make the world safe for democracy, and wanted to
form a League of Nations.
Bull Moose Party: this party was formed by Theodore Roosevelt when he wanted
to run for President against Taft and Wilson. This split the Republican vote, and
Wilson won.
Conscription: forced military service by the government
Selective Service Act: this Congressional act instituted conscription
Herbert Hoover: was the head of the Food Administration that fed the troops and
citizens of Europe. He became nationally known for his work and later became
President.
Doughboys: nickname for U.S. troops in WWI
Trench Warfare: type of fighting that took place in WWI in order to survive the
onslaught of the more powerful artillery and machine guns
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: this ended the war for Russia and allowed Germany to
focus their campaigns in the west.
Verdun: fortress like town that the Germans wanted to seize in order to
demoralize the French. Largest offensive the world had seen.
The Somme: largest counter-strike by the allies in the war
Treaty of Versailles: agreement that ended the war. If was full of very harsh
terms that hurt Germany.
14 Points: Wilson’s plan for peace in Europe
John J Pershing: commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (U.S. troops in
WWI)